Premier League leaders Manchester City travel to Old Trafford on Sunday to take on Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Pep Guardiola’s side start the weekend eight points ahead of us as the runaway Premier League leaders with the opportunity to put the title race virtually out of reach with three points in the derby.
We head into the match with many more injury issues on top of Paul Pogba being suspended.
Here is the Manchester City team I expect to see facing us on Sunday:
Goalkeeper: Ederson
The most expensive goalkeeper in the world is Manchester City’s number one and despite not getting a break on Wednesday night when Guardiola’s side were beaten at Shakhtar Donetsk in their final Champions League group game the Brazilian will face us this weekend.
Defence: Kyle Walker, Vincent Kompany, Nicolas Otamendi, Fabian Delph
Vincent Kompany is back was and even rested at the weekend so that he didn’t pick up a yellow card that would have seen him suspended for this one. He should be partnered by Nicolas Otamendi who has been a regular at the back this season with John Stones currently sidelined with a hamstring injury. £50 million summer signing Kyle Walker has been impressive going forward from right-back and could pin Ashley Young inside his own half. The left-back has been an interesting position for City this season since Benjamin Mendy was sidelined through injury as Fabian Delph has seen more time than Danilo there. I think the Englishman gets the start at Old Trafford as Danilo came in midweek.
Midfield: Fernandinho, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne
Fernandinho has been excellent in the holding midfield role this season with only us conceding fewer than the 10 goals City have shipped in their opening 15 Premier League games this season. His job will be to look after Jesse Lingard if he starts in a number 10 role. Guardiola was playing mind games earlier in the week by claiming that he didn’t know whether David Silva would be fit for this game, but much like Jose Mourinho, we weren’t buying it. He’s since confirmed Silva is available for Sunday. The Spaniard has been instrumental in the middle of the park for the Citizens this season and he’ll be facing us this weekend. Kevin De Bruyne is arguably the best midfielder in the world right now and he’ll require close attention from our midfield if we’re to keep City at bay.
Attack: Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero, Leroy Sane
Raheem Sterling has been in excellent form for Manchester City this season, scoring late winners in recent games versus Feyenoord, Huddersfield Town and Southampton. He still has a reputation for missing good chances and is also one of the biggest divers in the Premier League so Marcos Rojo needs to be very careful if he starts on the right of a back three given the penalty he recently conceded at Watford. Leroy Sane has been another star in the Premier League this season and his pace could be a real issue for us. The German scores and creates goals. As Gabriel Jesus started in Ukraine on Wednesday night I expect to see Sergio Aguero start this one. The Argentine loves to score against us and he’ll be playing the position that Alexandre Lacazette fired in seven shots on de Gea’s goal last weekend.
Here is how Manchester City line up:
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